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Oryx Arabian belongs to the family Bovines. There is a whole genus of Orixes, where the Arabian is one of the species. Representatives of this species have completely disappeared. But recently, on the territory of Oman, scientists have begun to reintroduce this species. A special reserve was created in which animals were later released.
After scientists were convinced that the experiments were carried out successfully, the representatives of the species were also released on the territory of other countries. They are in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. The best results were achieved in Israel, where animals successfully breed. The same success is observed in Saudi Arabia.
Appearance
Arabian oryxes are the smallest animals in size compared to other members of the genus. They weigh about 70 kg. Oryx height - 1 m.
They have an average tail length.The build is quite slim and graceful. A distinctive feature is the long, almost straight horns, which are only slightly bent toward the back. Their length is about 65-70 cm. In females and males, they do not differ in length.
These animals have snow-white skin, which makes it easier to tolerate heat. But the legs of these animals are black. At the base of the limbs, the color changes to brown. On the head of Oryx there are several black markings that form a “mask”.
Lifestyle
In these animals, the body is arranged in a special way, so that they better tolerate hot weather. They have a network of capillaries, through which the temperature of the blood can be reduced. Excessive heat goes into the air.
Oryx are able to live without water for a long time. Every day they move a long distance to find their food.
These animals have an amazing sensation of moisture. For a few kilometers they can determine that there is a reservoir nearby, and go in this direction. They feel that there will soon be precipitation in a particular area, and move there. They are most active in the morning, and in the afternoon they go into the shadows.
They feed on the few vegetation that they find in their habitats. For rest, Oryx dig themselves special holes. This is for them and shelter from the sun, and disguise.
Reproduction, social life
These animals almost never live alone. As a rule, they gather in herds, consisting of a small number of individuals. There is a clear hierarchy in this flock. It consists of individuals of both sexes, which have already reached the age of seven. If for any reason the herd is divided, then the males will return to the place where their group had last stopped. And then the rest will join them.
Fact! Animal horns often serve as weapons to resolve conflicts between members of the herd.
The breeding season lasts all year round. Every year, the female is born one baby.The duration of pregnancy is 240 days. Most often, small Oryx are born from the beginning of October to the end of May.
By the age of 4 months, oryxes become independent. They themselves get food, and do not depend on the mother. They reach sexual maturity at 3 years. These animals live to about 20 years.
Interesting Facts
It was the Arabian Orixes who prompted the ancient peoples to create the image of a unicorn in myths and legends. This image is present in the mythology of many countries. After all, they have the same white skin, and when viewed from the side you might think that the animal has only one horn on its head.
Even today, various mythical ideas are associated with these animals. Nomadic Bedouins believe that Oryx have supernatural power. They are sure that this force will be received by the person who can catch him.
In scientific sources, the word "oryx" was used by the Russian scientist Pallas. This name can be translated from Greek as "gazelle".
Security and strength
The history of this species proves that people are to blame for the disappearance and decline in the number of most animals.Because of the careless attitude to nature and wanting to get profit, people often do not understand that they cause irreparable damage to nature.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, these animals were widely distributed throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Occasionally they were hunted by the Bedouins. Many of them were afraid to go hunting in a wild and dangerous desert. Therefore, onyx victims of Bedouins rarely became. But when, during the hunt, they began to use cars, this situation changed radically. In addition, hunters' weapons have become more advanced. As a result, the extermination of these animals has increased to the most dangerous scale. Directly from the car, one hunter could shoot at several orixes at once. Previously, it was necessary to spend a lot of time and effort. Such an active destruction of the species led to the fact that already in 1930, there were no Oryx in the territory where Israel is located today.
Already in 1972, the last individual was shot by hunters. Only a few zoos left a small number of these amazing inhabitants of the desert land.
Thanks to modern science, the view was still able to be preserved and multiplied.In 1960, researchers began to worry about a sharp decline in the number of species. Immediately after this, a project was developed internationally. He was called "Orix." The goal of this project was to create a permanent group that would successfully multiply in conditions of captivity. Such a group was created in case the animals disappear altogether.
In the 19th century, the species virtually disappeared. Several groups lived in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, far from civilization.
The basis for the creation of a new generation of these animals was one female, who lived in the zoo of the city of Phoenix, as well as two males. Already in 1980, researchers conducted the reintroduction of representatives of the species into the wild. About 400 individuals were evicted to the territory of Oman.
Over the course of several years, numbers have declined significantly. There are only about 100 individuals. Scientists did not lose hope, they began to breed animals in other places on the peninsula. It was possible to achieve that in some areas the number of the species increases.
Today in the wild, there are approximately 1000 representatives of the species. In addition, about 6,000 heads live in captivity.Such successes give hope that the species, almost destroyed by humanity, can be restored.
Already in 2011, the opportunity to review the status of the species. Previously, they were threatened with extinction, and now they are only a vulnerable species. This is an isolated case when the species that was previously destroyed in nature was transferred to this list. Such successes give hope that it will be possible to prevent the extinction of many other animal species.
Video: Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx)
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